Pembina Plum vs Capilano Apricot - TreeTime.ca

Pembina Plum vs Capilano Apricot

Prunus nigra x salicina Pembina

Prunus Capilano

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Pembina Plum
Capilano Apricot

Pembina Plum is one of the best-tasting plums that can be planted on the prairies. It is semi-freestone with orange flesh that is soft, juicy, and sweet which contrasts with the thick, sour, dark red skin. The plums can grow up to 5 cm in diameter and are well-suited for fresh eating, baking, and preserves.

They typically ripen in mid to late August and should be picked as soon as they are ripe. If left too long, the fruit will fall off the tree.

Pembina Plum is a hybrid between Canada Plum and Japanese Plum. For fruit production, it needs to be planted with another variety for cross-pollination. Canada Plum and American Plum are considered universal pollinizers.

Capilano Apricot is a cold-hardy variety known for its sweet, juicy, full-flavored fruit. It produces white to pink blooms in early spring, before the leaves emerge, followed by golden-yellow, freestone apricots. They ripen from mid-July to early August and are well-suited for fresh eating, baking, wine, canning, and preserves.

The Capilano Apricot originated from three trees planted in Edmonton’s Capilano neighbourhood during the 1960s. As they began producing fruit, local fruit enthusiasts took notice and propagated the trees, with the southernmost becoming particularly popular. Though the original trees no longer exist, the Capilano Apricot remains a widely sought-after cold-hardy variety.

Capilano Apricot is generally considered self-pollinating, but planting with another variety for cross-pollination can increase yields.

Note: The early bloom time makes the flowers vulnerable to spring frosts, which can reduce or eliminate the fruit crop

Pembina Plum Quick Facts

Capilano Apricot Quick Facts

Zone: 2b
Zone: 3b
Height: 4 m (14 ft)
Height: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Growth form: spreading to rounded
Spreading: suckering - low
Suckering: medium


Fall colour: yellow to orange
Flowers: white
Flowers: white to pink
Bloom time: early spring
Fruit: purple-red skin with yellow flesh
Fruit: freestone apricots
Fruit size: 5cm in diameter
Flavor: sweet, slightly tart
Harvest: mid summer
Hybrid: yes
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no